WENDY JAMES BIO 2025

WENDY JAMES, born in London, is an English singer- songwriter notable for her work with band Transvision Vamp, her collaboration with Elvis Costello, solo work, collaboration with James Williamson from Iggy & the Stooges, Lenny Kaye from The Patti Smith Group and James Sclavunos from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. She has released 10 album from 1988 until 2024.

TRANSVISION VAMP 

Label: MCA/Universal

LP ALBUM:

‘POP ART’ Released 1988

‘VELVETEEN’ Released 1989

‘LITTLE MAGNETS VERSUS THE BUBBLE OF BABBLE’ Released 1991

Transvision Vamp was formed by Wendy James and co-writer and guitarist Nick Christian Sayer. In West London they teamed

up with Dave Parsons and Tex Axile. The band was signed to MCA records by Dave Ambrose, the notorious A&R man from

EMI records who had also signed the Sex Pistols. They recorded their first LP album ‘Pop Art’ and released a first single

‘Revolution Baby’ and then charted with their second single, a cover version of Holly & The Italians ‘Tell That Girl To Shut

Up’, followed by a third single ‘I Want Your Love’ which went to No.5 on the UK singles chart. The album ‘Pop Art’ was

released later in 1987 and went to No.3 in the UK album chart. Extensive touring of the UK and Europe continued throughout

this year as their success grew, starting on the University circuit and ending with playing two sold out gigs at the London Town And Country Club, taking in the Marquee Club along the way with queues two-fold around the block of Wardour Street, London. The album art was done by Jamie Reid, famous for his Sex Pistols artwork. When the album launched in America, living members of Andy Warhol’s Factory, Sylvia Miles, Danny Fields, Paul Morrissey, threw Wendy her ‘Welcome to New York’ party in celebration of being the new toast of the town in NYC and the album being called ‘Pop Art’. The second album ‘Velveteen’ was recorded in London at Metropolis Recording Studio, Sarm West Recording Studio, Townhouse Recording Studio and Olympic Studios in Barnes, made famous by The Rolling Stones. The album entered the UK albums chart at No.1 position and the main single ‘Baby I Don’t Care’ went to No.3 in the UK singles chart and a hit around the world. The ‘Velveteen’ LP became a hit all over the world, especially Australia and Spain and the band toured it non-stop for 2 years. After a break from touring, instead time spent on new songwriting, the band went into the studio again and recorded their third and what would be the final album ‘Little Magnets Versus The Bubble Of Babble’. It is this album that Wendy has cited as her favorite, in particular, the song ‘If Looks Could Kill’. The album started to take off in USA and the band went there and toured the US twice that year. In the meantime the UK record label, Dave Ambrose having departed his role as Managing Director, started to question the LP and internal politics of the record label in upheaval decided to pull the album from it’s UK release date. Despite this the band did a run of sold out dates around the UK including successive shows at The Brixton Academy and The Hammersmith Odeon in London. In the end the album was released everywhere around the world but only available in the UK on import. The album proved the band’s most successful in USA but by that time exhaustion and record label politics had convinced Wendy and Nick to draw the curtain down on the band, which they did, in San Francisco in 1992. During the span of Transvision Vamp, Wendy was made a cover-star of many magazines all over the world and photographed by everyone from David Bailey for Tatler Magazine and Jurgen Teller for The Face Magazine and I-D Magazine. She became a household name the world over, made numerous television appearances and riots in Australia happened when Transvision Vamp toured there, with streets blocked off and police on horses having to hold back the crowds.

Track Listing:

‘POP ART’

Trash City
I Want Your Love
Sister Moon
Psychosonic Cindy
Revolution Baby
Tell That Girl To Shut Up
Wild Star
Hanging Out With Halo Jones
Andy Warhol’s Dead
Sex Kick

‘VELVETEEN’

Baby, I Don’t Care
The Only One
Landslide For A Goldmine
Down On You
Song To The StarsKiss Their Sons
Born To Be Sold
Pay The Ghosts
Bad Valentine
Velveteen

‘LITTLE MAGNETS VERSUS THE BUBBLE OF BABBLE’

(I Just Wanna) B with U
Ain’t No Rules
If Looks Could Kill
Every Little Thing
Twangy Wig Out
Don’t Believe The Type
Pressure Times
Crawl Out Your Window
You Put A Spell On Me
Back On My Knees Again

ELVIS COSTELLO COLLABORATION

LP ALBUM:

‘NOW AIN’T THE TIME FOR YOUR TEARS’

Geffen Records
Released: March 1993

While Wendy had been touring the US with Transvision Vamp she bumped into Pete Thomas the drummer from Elvis Costello & The Attractions. Both bands had played together earlier that year at a festival in Ireland called ‘Feile’. Wendy asked Pete if there was any chance of Elvis working with her as she felt the demise of TVV was imminent. He suggested to her she should write a letter to Costello, which she did and so resulted a fully written LP album ‘Now Ain’t The Time For Your Tears’ (originally called ‘The Gwendolyn Letters’) by Elvis Costello and his then partner Cait O’ Riordan, bass player from The Pogues. Upon receiving the demo version of the album from Elvis Costello, Wendy flew to Los Angeles and asked the USA MCA/Universal managing director Al Teller to release her from her contract. He instead offered that she move over onto Geffen Records, which Universal had recently acquired. She agreed and set about recording the album for Geffen. Chris Kimsey, famed Rolling Stones producer was engaged to produce the album and they recorded in Toulouse, France and subsequently mixed at Sunset Sound Recording Studios in LA. The album was released to much fanfare but failed to make a big hit on the UK or US charts, though it became a collectors item for Costello fans who knew that this was the first time in years Elvis had regrouped his band The Attractions to record the demos and he gradually released his version of all the songs too.

Track Listing:

‘NOW AIN’T THE TIME FOR YOUR TEARS’

This Is A Test
London’s Brilliant
Basement Kiss
Puppet Girl
Earthbound
Do You Know What I’m Saying?
We Despise You
Fill In The Blanks
The Nameless One
I Want To Stand Forever

WENDY JAMES TIME OUT IN WEST LONDON

After the whirlwind of not only Transvision Vamp but also the Elvis Costello collaboration, Wendy withdrew from the limelight to her home in Ladbroke Grove, West London and instead set about writing her own songs and beginning the next chapter of her musical life, which would see her not only releasing four independent solo albums but also leaving the Portobello Road, West London and moving to New York City. She also took this time out to focus on her private life with boyfriend Mick Jones from The Clash.

WENDY JAMES SOLO LP ALBUMS

All written, produced, mixed by Wendy James:

‘RACINE NO.1’ 

Released on One Little Indian September 2004

‘RACINE 2’ 

Released on The Wendy James Label / Jungle Records July 2007

‘I CAME HERE TO BLOW MINDS’ 

Released on The Wendy James Label March 2011

‘THE PRICE OF THE TICKET’ 

Released on The Wendy James. Label February 2016

‘QUEEN HIGH STRAIGHT’ 

Released on The Wendy James Label May 2020

‘THE SHAPE OF HISTORY 

Released on The Wendy James Label October 2024

‘Racine No.1’ was written and demo’d while Wendy still lived in London but the studio recording was done in New Jersey, USA at Sonic Youth’s recording studio. A Lo-Fi venture with Wendy playing every instrument and working only with an engineer Matt Azzarto. She then formed a band around her comprised of friends from London, New York and a guitarist from Sweden. They toured Europe and during this time Wendy quickly wrote a new amount of songs which would become ‘RACINE 2’. 

Track Listing:

‘RACINE NO.1’

The Man
Grease Monkey
Princess Patience Blues
Hip Hop 156
W.13th
Blonde Mink Mimi
Heavy Metal Dude
That’s The Breaks, Junior
Cakewalk
Life Goes On
Deluxe

‘Racine 2’ was a far more produced and fleshed out sound, working with the musicians who had toured with her for Racine No.1. They went to a large recording studio in New Jersey and over a six week period recorded the 13 track LP and a Double CD packaged with the Racine No.1 Demos Released once more independently with her US distribution company Cobraside Distribution, the album received many glowing reviews in the UK and US press but few sales relatively and no real prominence at radio mainly due to lack of funds to hire marketing and promo teams to bolster her distribution deal. The band toured again extensively around Europe and a couple of local NYC dates too. When the first pressing run ran out, the album was re-issued as a picture disc through https://thewendyjames.com/store

Track Listing:

‘RACINE 2’

Way
I’m Freaking Out
Racine
Bobby’s Going ElectricYou’re A Good Man Sister
There Ain’t No Way – I Can’t Do No Twenny In This
Oui Ou Non – A Straight Boogaloo
Stoned, Ripped And Twisted
Essex Dog
Those Leg Motherfuckers
Bitter Funny

‘I Came Here To Blow Minds’, the third solo album from Wendy James was written by Wendy once more but this time recorded in Paris, France with French musicians. The album was recorded in the basement recording studio of the famous ‘APC’ clothing label design studios on the Left Bank of Paris in St. Germain des Pres. When all the tracks were recorded, because of DJ work Wendy had been asked to do in Sydney, Australia, Wendy mixed the album in Sydney at BJB Recording Studios with celebrated Australian producer Scott Horscroft. The album was released once more with no budget to promote but this time on Vinyl, CD and Download, again through her distribution company in LA, Cobraside Distribution. Good reviews again, some stand out tracks, but no chart position to speak of.

Track Listing:

‘I CAME HERE TO BLOW MINDS’

The Moon Dead In The River
Where Have You Been, So Long?
Don’t Shoot I Ain’t Dillinger
Municipal Blues
New Wave Flowered Up Main Street Acid Baby
Speedball
No DiceYou Tell Me
King Hoodlum
One Evening In A Small Cafe…
These Beggar Memories
You’re A Fucking Mess, But You Sure Is Pretty
I Came Here To Blow Minds

WENDY JAMES SINGLE DOUBLE A SIDE COLLABORATION WITH JAMES WILLIAMSON AND STEVE MACKAY FROM IGGY & THE STOOGES AND JAMES SCLAVUNOS FROM NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

Wendy James, James Williamson and James Sclavunos all decided to record a couple of numbers together, choosing two cover versions, one by Bob Dylan: the epic ‘It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding’ and one by Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith (MC5/Sonic’s Rendezvous Band) ‘You’re So Great’. They booked a studio in Berkeley, Northern California called Fantasy Recording Studios and over 10 days recorded and mixed the two songs with engineer Jesse Nichols. The single was released in US as a download at iTunes and made a lot of the USA ‘Best Single of The Year’ lists.

Track Listing

Single:

You’re So Great
It’s Alright Ma

‘THE PRICE OF THE TICKET’

w/ Lenny Kaye (The Patti Smith Group), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols), James Sclavunos (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)James Williamson and Steve Mackay (Iggy & The Stooges)

All songs written by Wendy James except the two cover versions with James Williamson, covers of Bob Dylan and Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith, the album was recorded in NYC with Ivan Julian (Richard Hell & The Voidoids) as the engineer. Live sessions with Lenny Kaye, Glen Matlock and James Sclavunos made up the main-stay of the album sessions and then Wendy took the LP back to Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California to once again work and mix with engineer Jesse Nichols. The art work was

photographed and designed by her fashion designer friend Kym Ellery. The album is released on Vinyl, CD and Download and a glorious signed and numbered Picture Disc and a pre-sale campaign was launched with legendary A&R man Malcom Dunbar’s new business model for selling records pledgemusic.com. The pre-sale campaign was a huge success and resulted in the LP entering the UK charts at No.15. Two 7” single vinyls came off the album :Indigent Blues’/‘Bad Intentions And A Bit Of Cruelty’ and ‘Farewell to Love/‘You’re A Dirtbomb, Lester.

Track Listing:

‘THE PRICE OF THE TICKET’

Paloma’s Downs
Indigent Blues
King Rat
Love From The 9th
Bad Intentions And A Bit Of Cruelty
You’re A Dirtbomb, Lester
Screamin’ Back Washington
Why Oh Why Do You Hurt Me Still?Farewell To Love
Cowboy Rhythm
Situation Normal At Surfrider
You’re So Great
It’s Alright Ma

‘QUEEN HIGH STRAIGHT’

A double gatefold vinyl and a deluxe gatefold cd. Printed inner sleeves, liner notes – a real big record release! The range of songs is yet more skilled and profound; from her natural penchant for Alt Rock New Wave Pop Songs through to the most delicately composed heart wrenching ballads and whimsy to truly aggressive punk speed rock and the big pop sound of great girl groups The Ronettes, Shangri-Las and Martha & The Vandellas. Production values hailing from The Wrecking Crew, Bacharach & David and that Motor City Detroit Sound! Always with a firm eye (and heart) on The Stooges and The Velvet Underground. The album charted in the indie charts at No.16. with many glowing reviews and a growth in her following. The Touring in support of this album included a support slot for The Psychedelic Furs around the UK and then a very long 32 date comprehensive tour of the UK. Recorded and Mixed in the UK, Mastered in NYC. 

Track Listing:

‘QUEEN HIGH STRAIGHT’

Perilous Beauty
Free Man Walk
Stomp Down, Snuck Up
Little Melvin
Marlene et Fleur
A Heart Breaking Liar’s Promise
Here Comes The Beautiful One
Chicken Street
Testimonial
Bar Room Brawl & Benzedrine Blues
Ratfucking
She Likes To Be (Underneath Somebody)
Bliss Hotel
Freak In
The Impression Of Normalcy
I’ll Be Here When The Morning Comes
Cancel It… I’ll See Him On Monday
Sugar Boy
Kill Some Time Blues

‘THE SHAPE OF HISTORY’ 

Release d on two formats: A wide spine cover, double vinyl LP. One 12” vinyl and one 10” vinyl, to allow for top quality audio for all 13 brand new songs. The 12” plays at 33 1/3 rpm and the 10” plays at 45 rpm. They are packaged together with fully printed sleeves, inner sleeves and a 12 page full size booklet, containing multiple new photographs, all the lyrics, the credits and hand written liner notes by Wendy (also get an automatic digital download) and a deluxe cd which is packaged like a mini vinyl! There is the outer front cover, a fully printed inner sleeve and a 24 page booklet containing multiple new photographs, all the lyrics, the credits and hand written liner notes by Wendy. Wendy says: “My 10th album! My songwriting has always been a wide mix of sounds, which naturally reflect the different music and references I have and love. My sweet spot is mid-late 70’s downtown NYC New Wave Punk: CBGB and Max’s Kansas City. It is from this sound that my taste for sequenced and dark NY and Euro electro and no-wave evolves, original punks ‘The Stooges’, glam rockers the ‘New York Dolls’, English Punk/Pop the ‘Sex Pistols’, French Yé-Yé Girls, American 1950’s Rock and Roll, Rockabilly and 60’s Motown, Girl Groups, Phil Spector, Brian Wilson. Also Hip Hop music, original B-Boys the ‘Beastie Boys’, East Coast versus West Coast, Dr. Dre! The King of New York Lou Reed and ‘The Velvet Underground’, black rhythm and blues from 1930’s depression era America, African American slave era Spirituals and therefore Country and Bluegrass music, Willie Nelson and his fellow Outlaws! Bob Dylan, Jamaican Ska, British Northern Soul and movie soundtracks! Big scores! Big opening numbers! George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and the New York Skyline ‘Rhapsody In Blue’. London and The Kinks ‘Waterloo Sunset’ or Paris, Saint Germain and Serge Gainsbourg ‘Initials BB’. Movies, movie directors, literature, authors, artists, activists, all filtered through the prism of my adventures and experiences in life and in music. The album was released on October 25th 2024 on The Wendy James Label with Deluxe Versions available through her webstore: https://thewendyjames.com/store and pared down and differently packaged versions distributed worldwide by Proper Music Distribution. The album charted at 16 in the indie charts and 37 in the overall UK album charts. Back in the Top 40!

‘The Shape Of History’ was recorded in West London & Brooklyn and mixed in Berkeley, CA. Mastered in Brooklyn 

Track Listing: 

THE SHAPE OF HISTORY

Sweet Like Love
A Happy Life
Everything Is Magic
May I Kiss You? (Just Enough To Get Us Into Trouble)
The Crack And The Boom Of The Creeps And The Goons
A Big Vicious Rumble
Do You Dig It? Do You Love It? Is It Groovy?
Don’t Let Daylight Into Magic 
This Declaration Of Love
Freedomsville
Step Aside Roadkill
Thank You For The Time We Shared
The Shape Of History 

There are touring plans for 2025 to be announced. 

WENDY JAMES LINK TREE: https://thewendyjames.com/link-tree/